AMD is fine-tuning its product development cycle to deliver a new processor architecture towards the end of each year, and a new chipset towards the beginning of one, maintaining platform compatibility and longevity. The company launched its socket AM3+ compliant 9-series chipset months ahead of its first-generation Bulldozer FX processor family, though it looks like in the year 2012 it will launch a new line of desktop chipset, in all likelihood it will precede the launch of second-generation Bulldozer (codenamed "Piledriver") processors.

In 2012, AMD chipset family will be led by the 10-series chipset. At the very top is AMD 1090FX northbridge, followed by 1070. 1090FX will be designed to give out two PCI-Express x16 links, which can then drive up to four graphics cards. The 1070, on the other hand, gives out just one x16 link, which can drive up to two graphics cards. AMD will scrap its present model of 990X and 970, in which the northbridge is essentially the same piece of silicon, with the 990X having lane switches and supporting CrossFireX. A big revelation here is that the 10-series chipset will not feature PCI Express Gen 3.0. We'd normally expect AMD to be at the forefront of supporting new technologies. If we remember, AMD 790FX was the first AMD platform chipset in the industry to feature PCI-Express 2.0. Also, it is highly likely that AMD's Radeon HD 7000 series graphics, which are slated for later this year, will support PCI-Express 3.0 interface.

On the upside, though, 10-series chipset will be backed by the new SB1050 southbridge, which outpaces Intel's 7-series chipset in terms of connectivity. To begin with, SB1050 will pack a massive 8-port SATA 6 Gb/s RAID controller. All ports will run support 6 Gb/s data-rate. The SB1050 will also integrate native USB 3.0 SuperSpeed controllers. They will also streamline inventory management for manufacturers, as the chipset will be compatible with existing processor platforms. Some industry sources we spoke to commented that PCI-Express 3.0 chipset support is unlikely till Piledriver processors start selling.

Sounds like it's the same northbridge as the 790/890/990 with a slightly tweaked southbridge. This rebranding of one chip is getting close to being as bad as nVidia and the one MCP that powered 19 different chipsets over 4 generations.

I think the new northbridge is built on 40 nm process. So it will run cooler with lower power draw. But yes, this is essentially the same silicon as 890FX/990FX. Can't say the same about 790FX, because with 890FX the ALink chipset bus got updated to 4 GB/s.

I think the new northbridge is built on 40 nm process. So it will run cooler with lower power draw. But yes, this is essentially the same silicon as 890FX/990FX. Can't say the same about 790FX, because with 890FX the ALink chipset bus got updated to 4 GB/s.

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Well the upgrade to the ALink bus didn't happen thanks to the northbridge but thanks to the SB. The 790 NB already supported PCIE 2.0 but it's accompanying SB didn't. Since ALink is nothing more than a PCIE connection, you see where i'm getting at. So 790 & 890 where the same silicon and AMD has only upgraded the southbridge since then.
I think the reason why AMD is so reluctant to upgrade the NB is bc the next step for them would be to integrate a fully new NB into the CPU. So I guess all the (limited) resources are going into that.

I think the new northbridge is built on 40 nm process. So it will run cooler with lower power draw. But yes, this is essentially the same silicon as 890FX/990FX. Can't say the same about 790FX, because with 890FX the ALink chipset bus got updated to 4 GB/s.

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40nm won't make it run at a lower temp. Lower volts will but the package size makes zero difference in a heat equation.

At least this shows a prolonging of the lifespan of AM3+. Many (myself included) thought that AMD was gonna try and move everything to FM2, until the recent leaked slides showing an AM3+ Piledriver.

But the lack of PCIe 3.0 seems disappointing. AMD can try and say we have dual 16x slots with the 1090FX to Intel's dual 8x slots, but the Ivy Bridge chipsets will have PCIe 3.0, so dual 8x 3.0 ~ dual 16x 2.0.

At least this shows a prolonging of the lifespan of AM3+. Many (myself included) thought that AMD was gonna try and move everything to FM2, until the recent leaked slides showing an AM3+ Piledriver.

But the lack of PCIe 3.0 seems disappointing. AMD can try and say we have dual 16x slots with the 1090FX to Intel's dual 8x slots, but the Ivy Bridge chipsets will have PCIe 3.0, so dual 8x 3.0 ~ dual 16x 2.0.

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There's always a catch. "Trinity" as it's known, packs just two Piledriver modules (four "cores"). So imagine the CPU performance about 10~15% higher than FX-4000 series chips.